CIVIL ENGINEER SANCTIONED OVER FLAWED REPORT
The Engineers and Geoscientists B.C. has issued a three-month suspension and financial penalties against an engineer
BOB MACKIN
For The Squamish Chief
Acivil engineer who prepared a flood hazard assessment report for the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure admitted to unprofessional conduct.
In an Aug. 11 Engineers and Geoscientists B.C. (EGBC) consent order, Patrick Michael Sails is suspended for three months, beginning Aug. 21, and must pay $5,000 toward legal and investigative costs. Additionally, Sails must complete several educational courses and undergo peer review of his work at his own expense.
Sails admitted he did not have necessary qualifications, training and experience to prepare a flood hazard assessment for the ministry to reduce existing covenant setbacks at a property
ARBOURWOODS
PHOTO BY JENNIFER THUNCHER/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF SQUAMISH WEEKEND: Fishermen head out into Howe Sound in front of Oliver’s Landing on Sunday afternoon. The sky was hazy from area wildfire smoke.
CONSENT ORDER: Continued from 1
in the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District
EGBC had cited Sails on Jan. 30, but the consent order with the discipline resolution panel means there will be no hearing into the matter
The EGBC registry says civil engineer Sails originally registered in 2015, did not renew in 2022, but did so last year His areas of practice are listed as civil (foundations/soils/geotechnical) and geological engineering (geotechnical/soil mechanics/rock mechanics).
The consent order says that Sails failed to comply with the EGBC practice guidelines for:
• Legislated Flood Assessments in a Changing Climate in BC (Version 2.1)
• Quality Management Guidelines: Documented Checks of Engineering and Geoscience Work (Version 1.3); and,
• The ministry’s terms of reference for natural hazards.
Sails also failed to comply with flood hazard assessment requirements, conduct and document sufficient fieldwork and analysis to reasonably evaluate flood hazard or risks. He also broke EGBC bylaws that require all
NEWS BRIEF
CONSTRUCTION
If you have ridden your bike in downtown Squamish, on Victoria Street in particular, you know it is not for the faint of heart. Cyclists have the choice to basically ride beside parked cars down the centre of the road, or head for the sidewalk. Neither is a safe option.
It is this problem that the District’s Victoria Street Active Transportation Upgrades project aims to solve.
Work to install new protected bike lanes
members and licensees to establish and maintain documented quality management processes for their practices, which required, as a minimum, correspondence, investigations, assessments and quality assurance documentation for a period of 10 years and
regular documented checks of quality control appropriate to the risk associated.
The code of ethics breaches violated three principles, including “to hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public, including the protection of the environment,
and promote health and safety in the workplace.”
During the suspension period, the consent order states that Sails will “limit his practice to those project files that he is currently engaged on and will not take on any new project files or other engineering work; and make reasonable arrangements for the orderly transfer of his ongoing professional engineering project files to other professional engineers.”
Sails must complete, at his own expense, two webinars and an online seminar and be restricted from providing professional engineering services in relation to flood hazard assessments. Before that can be lifted, he must complete at his own expense, two flood hydrology webinars, but then be subject to peer review by an EGBC-approved professional engineer for a minimum 12 months and review a minimum of two projects. The costs of the peer reviewer will also be charged to Sails.
“In the event that Mr. Sails fails to comply with any of the terms of this consent order, his registration with EGBC will be, or will remain, suspended until every default has been remedied in accordance with the terms of this consent order,” said the consent order.
along the street is already underway and will last for about four months, the District says
“This project will link downtown with the new Pedestrian Bridge over the Mamquam Blind Channel. This will result in an improved active transportation link to and from southern Squamish neighbourhoods through SEAandSKY to downtown Squamish for people of all ages and abilities,” the District says on its project website.
Protected bike lanes are physically separated from vehicles either vertically—up the curb at the same or similar height as the
sidewalk—or horizontally with a barrier,” according to the report to council on Feb. 14, 2023
The construction will mean the elimination of 27 parking spaces: 11 on Victoria Street and 16 on Main Street, the report notes.
“This project will allow a safer cycling connection once the bridge over the Mamquam Blind Channel is completed, keeping cycling lanes and driving lanes on Victoria Street separated,” a District spokesperson told The Squamish Chief.
Construction impacts
The District alerts visitors to the following impacts as a result of the construction
• Work will take place between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday to Friday.
• Elevated noise levels in the vicinity of the work area.
• Short-term traffic disruptions due to construction activities and vehicles.
• This work is weather-dependent. All efforts are being made to minimize impacts to the area.
PHOTO BY INDIGO LEMAY CONWAY/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF
Patrick Sails must complete, at his own expense, two webinars and an online seminar and be restricted from providing professional engineering services in relation to flood hazard assessments.
GOT NEWS?
Email your news tip or story idea to: jthuncher@squamishchief.com ilemayconway@squamishchief.com inapace@squamishchief.com
HIKER SURVIVES 18-METRE FALL WHILE TRYING TO SAVE HER DOG
‘It wasn’t a straight fall—I tumbled four times,’ said Margaux Cohen, recalling the moment she plunged down Tricouni Peak during an August hike
JENNIFER THUNCHER
jthuncher@squamishchief.com
Depending on how you look at it, Margaux Cohen is either very lucky or incredibly unlucky.
She chooses to focus on her good fortune.
Athlete and avid hiker Cohen, who often shares her mountain adventures on her social media channels, had just finished summiting Tricouni Peak, north of Squamish, with her friend Max Stobbe and his cousin on Aug. 24, when her day literally took a turn for the worse.
The trio was about 200 metres below the summit when they found themselves off the trail. They checked a map to get back onto the trail Nearby, there was what Cohen described as a “little wall.”
“It seemed pretty easy to come down from that,” she said, adding that Stobbe went first and she handed him her dog.
“Then I go second ... I guess my dog, Zion, slipped, lost his footing in a way, and he just started sliding down. And I had this instinct to just grab his harness. But I did not realize that by doing this, and because of his weight, I was just going to fall,” she said.
She fell a total of about 18 metres (60 feet).
“It wasn’t a straight fall I tumbled down like, four times. So I probably fell 20 feet, and then hit my face on rocks, and then fell again and again and again,” she recalled from her Lions Gate Hospital bed, where she was to stay for at least another week
Thankfully, during the fall, she didn’t lose consciousness
When the falling stopped, she realized she was still alive.
“Which was pretty incredible, and I was conscious, and then I looked at my leg, and I was
like, there’s something wrong with my leg. My leg was not in the right shape. I started screaming.”
The screams were a welcome sound to Stobbe, who couldn’t see, from where he was above, where Cohen had ended up, and feared the worst, according to Cohen.
He made his way down to her, and they called 911.
As for Zion, he was right beside her, with an injured paw, but not more worse for wear
“My dog was like, sitting next to me, just wagging his tail, like nothing happened, like he just had the time of his life,” Cohen recalled, with a laugh.
She, however, was not having a good time
It took Squamish Search and Rescue two hours to reach her, not a long time in retrospect, Cohen said—stressing how grateful she was for their gentle and expert help—but it felt like a long time in close to 33 C heat, with significant injuries
“The weekend was really hot, and there was no
shade. So waiting two hours with no shade on rocks where you have the injury that I had was a really long time,” she said, adding she was in a lot of pain and panicking about her situation while they waited.
“First of all, I hit my face probably three times. So my nose and the left side of my face was really swollen. And, I could not really feel it. It was really numb ... I could also feel that it was really big. I was pissing blood from my nose, and my leg—I could not find a position where it didn’t hurt because I had misplaced one of my bones,” said Cohen.
She was airlifted out and transferred to the hospital She has had one surgery on her leg already and her second was scheduled for Tuesday of this week
Her good friend Emily Kasal has launched a GoFundMe for Vancouver-based Cohen, who is from France, because she is not a permanent resident Therefore, her quickly ramping-up medical bills are not all covered, nor the coming
months when she won’t be able to work her bartending job
“The recovery is going to be pretty long, unfortunately, because the injury—it’s not just a broken bone where I can just have a cast and then be fine. They have to put plates and screws in my leg. It is going to take a long time until I can actually have weight on my leg. So I’m going to need a lot of help for the first two months or so, and then I’m going to need a lot of physio. I’m looking at probably at least four months until I can do any type of physical activities,” she said The funds raised by the campaign will also cover the vet bill for Zion’s injury
“Margaux is one of the most kindhearted, adventurous, and resilient people I know,” said Kasal, on the GoFundMe page “She has always been there to support others, and now she needs our help Any donation, no matter the size, will make a huge difference for her and her furry best friend.”
This was a dramatic summer for Cohen and Stobbe. In June, their TikTok of coming face-to-face with a cougar while they were returning from Garibaldi Lake went viral, prompting headlines about the pair’s encounter. Cohen said she didn’t call and tell her mom back home about her fall until three days after the event.
Like her daughter, her mom saw the positive in the situation
“She was just like, ‘Well, it’s an accident People get into car accidents all the time, and you had an accident in the mountains, because you spend all of your time in the mountains,’” Cohen recalled.
“And she was like, ‘Over the seven years that you’ve been hiking, you’ve never had an accident It just happens.’ She’s just obviously really happy that it’s not something more serious.”
PHOTOS SUBMITTED Left: Margaux Cohen after her fall; Right: being airlifted.
BC THANKSGIVINGFOODDRIVE SWINGS THROUGHTOWN
100volunteersaim to restockshelves during Sept.20event
WILL JOHNSON
ForThe Squamish Chief
Imagine you’re hungry,yourkidsare hungry,but allofyourshelves are empty.
Forthousands of BritishColumbians, this isn’t an imaginativeexercise—it’s their everyday reality. That’s whythe BC Thanksgiving Food Drive(BCTFD) exists,and needsyourhelptofillthe shelvesofthose trying to meet theirbasic nutritionalneeds
OnSaturday, Sept.20, theprovincewide initiativereturns to Squamish with a multi-agency driveinvolving over 100 volunteers.According to Squamish Food Bank manager Venita Fung,the community’s generosity each year hasahuge impact—last year,about 2,300kilograms (5,000 pounds)of non-perishablefood itemsand $5,000 were donated.
“Thanksgivingisaspecial andmeaningful time forthe Squamish Food Bank.Asthe need forservicesatthe Squamish Food Bank continuestogrow, with 6,670visitsand 480 household hampersprepared anddelivered in thefirst sixmonthsof 2025,the BCTFDisone ofthe primarywaysthrough whichthe
Squamish Food Bank receives community support andresources,” shesaid, in arelease
Once again, thefoodbankwillbeworking alongsidethe Squamish Multifaith
Associationwiththe goal of stocking enough food forthe remainderofthe year
Thefood bank andSquamish Helping Hands officially merged into “one happyfood
security family”inearly 2025,strengthening theSea to Skyfoodsystem, therelease states.
This year,fooddrive organizers are requesting that communitydonationsinclude only themostrequested items, whichwill increase theirsupplyofnutritionally dense foodsfor individualsand families
On pickup day, please only putout the following:
-Rice(brownorwhite)
-Peanutbutter
-Cannedfish(tuna,salmon, sardines)
-Cereal/oatmeal
-Cannedsoup(meat andvegetarian)
-Cannedvegetables
-Apple sauce
“Weencourage everyone to give generously, and, when donating food,tobemindful of expiration dates. Expireditems cannot be used andresultinadditionaldisposalcosts for thefood bank,impacting ourresources,” readsthe release.
Donationswillbecollected door-to-door on themorning of Sept.20, andbrought to the Squamish Food Bank locatedat37871 Third Ave.
Formoreinformation on food security programs,pleasecontact foodsecurity@shhs. ca If youwould like to volunteerfor this event, please contactsquamishfooddrive@gmail.com.
Baha’i Faith
SQUAMISH BAHÁ’Í COMMUNITY
ReconciliationisJustice
Reconciliation is justice in action in all aspectsoflife, as individuals and as asociety Reconciling is the actofacknowledginginjustice past and present, being cleareyedand unwilling to turnaway when it is uncomfortable. ‘Abdu’l-Bahawrote: “Mereknowledge of principlesisnot sufficient. We all know and admit that justice is good,but thereisneed of volition and action to carryout and manifest it…Action is essential.”
Presentday society is based on materialisticprinciples andvalues which promotes the injustices of the past.Abdu’l-Baha advised that: “The governmentofthe countriesshould conformtothe Divine Law which gives equaljustice to all. This isthe onlyway in which thedeplorable superfluity of greatwealth and miserable, demoralizing,degrading poverty canbeabolished.”
The spiritual principles of justice, equity,respect, empathy,integrity,and truthfulness mustemerge in the hearts, minds andinthe actionsofindividuals in suchwiseas totransformindividual and community life.
To achieve thisgoal, we recognizethat social divisionsneedtobehealed. We are all part of the samehuman family.This visionofoneness, andanappreciationof thebeautyofour diversity,can guide aprocess of healing.
“We mustall strive with heart and souluntilwehave therealityofunity in ourmidst.” www.squamishbahais.com/blog
PHOTOSUBMITTED
TheThanksgivingfooddrive requires theeffortsofdozensofdevoted localvolunteerseachyear.
LOCAL ARTISTS UNITE FOR SENSORY-RICH ‘PORTALS’ EXHIBIT
‘Portals’ isn’t just an art show it’s a sensory journey designed to evoke emotion and reflection
JENNIFER THUNCHER jthuncher@squamishchief.com
It is safe to say that Squamish has never seen an event quite like this
Portals is set to be an experiential art installation set to run from Oct. 10 to 21 at Spirit School
The ambitious project is the first of the non-profit society Verge Art Collective, and the brainchild of Erica Otto, somatic trauma therapist and dancer
Otto is the director and project lead of the family-friendly Portals, which is part of the Squamish ArtWalk, by Squamish Arts; the arts council also provided them a grant for the exhibit.
The project has been in the works for a year.
The exhibit includes ceramics, painting, photography, music, dance videos, aroma therapy, body painting, fibre arts, and interactive elements.
The event includes the work of 22 local artists and 45 original pieces of art. The exhibit will take about 30 to 40 minutes to walk through, and is essentially a story that you interact with
“And there are elements of the exhibit that revolve, they rotate, so you can walk through the exhibit twice and not experience the same thing,” Otto said
“The intention of the exhibit is, through an experiential and multi-modal way—so engaging all a person’s senses—elicit experiences of change as people walk through the exhibit, and we’re exploring specifically the archetypes of the Tarot, but more directly the spaces in between,” said Otto.
SOMATIC EXPERIENCE OF CHANGE
She said one of the things she noticed over her years as a therapist is that change is one of the things people struggle with most.
“I was really curious about bringing together art and somatics, and how do we elicit a somatic experience of change, but in this implicit way,” she said
The Mayo Clinic Press describes somatics as a “focus on body awareness and reflection By reflecting on the body’s sensations, purposeful, mindful movement is emphasized.”
In terms of the interactive elements of the exhibit, Otto said an example is bells for people to ring at the beginning of their “story.” Another example is a community loom where people can add to “this great weaving,” she said Further, for the death archetype, there’s an interactive piece available, Otto said, though she hesitated to give too much away before the exhibit opens.
The hope is that people will feel their feelings, so to speak, as they move through the displays.
“As people walk in, there’ll be instructions. One of the invitations is to notice how something makes you feel. So what does it make you think, what emotions come up, what is present in your
body? And we don’t have an attachment to whether that’s good or bad,” Otto said.
“For some people, certain archetypes will really speak to them. For others, it’ll be a different image. And there are so many different things that there’ll be something for everyone There’s poetry, there’s paintings, there’s paintings on fabric There’s enough that there’s going to be at least one thing for each person
Maybe it’s the smell, maybe it’s the music, maybe it’s the lighting, maybe it’s the dance video, maybe it’s the interactive piece we have, a six-foot sculpture. There are so many different elements that there’s a lot of opportunity for people to engage their own experience.”
It was important to Otto that artists not only contribute to the exhibit but be part of it.
All the models in the featured photographs are the artists who also contributed art to the exhibit.
‘BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND CREATE COMMUNITY’
The process of pulling this eclectic project together has been about more than the exhibit, Otto said, adding it is also about community and relationship building.
“That’s kind of the point of all of this—to bring people together and create community and culture in a way that is supportive, especially in our times. I feel strongly we need more of these coherent, grounded, relational experiences to help us carry through. To discover who we are, what we stand up for, and how we want to live our lives So that’s the positivity for me,” she said
“That’s the driving purpose behind it, and I see it working. So it’s encouraging. It’s not just like ‘Come to the art exhibit,’ it’s ‘Come join us,’ and we’re creating something really beautiful together.”
COLLECTIVE OF ARTISTS
In addition to Otto, local artists involved in the project include:
•Brian Aikens, photographer
•Ciarra Saylor, painter
•Brian Marchant, sounds tech
•Natacha Trottier, body painting artist
•Mel Mencarelli, designer
•Helen Beynon, poet
•Heidi Nielsen, aromatherapist
•Sea to Sky Dance Collective dancers
Other artists who hail from outside Squamish include Adriana Koc (Spadaro painter), Ashley Dodd (ceramic artist), and Michael Hewitt
(musician and exhibit design).
Tickets are by donation
The proceeds from the exhibit will go toward paying the artists for their work Once the artists are paid, the proceeds will support PearlSpace Organizers are still looking for volunteers to help with the setup and tear down of the exhibit. To volunteer, reach out to Otto at Erica@ vergeartcollaborative.com.
Squamish Community Forest ForestOperations MapID#2524
NoticeofPublicReviewand Comment
Noticeisherebygiven that Squamish Community Forest,holderof Community Forest AgreementLicence K5Y, is seekingpublic review and comment on Forest OperationsMap (FOM)ID#2524,which is coveredby ForestStewardship Plan #970,for a30-dayperiodfromAugust29, 2025, to September28, 2025. This FOMconsists of sixproposedblocks(LAVA1, LAVA4,LAVA5,LAVA9,LAVA11, LAVA13)and associated roads, located in theMamquamRiver/Lavaflow area,between MamquamRiver and Ring Creek, in theSea to SkyNatural Resource District
TheFOM canbeviewedathttps://fom.nrs.gov.bc.ca/public/projects, andbysearching forFOM#2524orFOM Holder Squamish Community Forest,using the‘Find’function. TheFOM canalsobemadeavailable forin-person viewingduringregular businesshours(Monday to Friday from 9:00am-3:00pm) at ChartwellResource GroupLtd.’sofficeat #201– 1121 CommercialPlace,Squamish BC,V8B 0S5.
Commentscan be submitted anytime duringthe 30-day periodthrough the FOM onlineportalathttps://fom.nrs.gov.bc.ca/public/projects, e-mailed to SquamishCF.FOM@gmail.com, or mailed to theaddressnotedabove Pleasereference theFOM ID when submitting comments
Following thereviewand comment period, this FOMmay be relied upon toapplyfor aRoadPermitorCutting Permit within a3-yearperiod, ending August28, 2028 (NOTE-this enddateisa correctionfromlastweek’s noticeinthe Chief. Thecorrect enddateofthe FOMvalidityperiodis August 28,2028).
PHOTOS BY BRIAN AIKENS AND ERICA OTTO BODY PAINTING BY NATACHA TROTTIER
Left: Generations; the archetype of the high priestess and the empress. Middle: Justice: the archetype of the chariot and justice. Right: Mandala; the archetype of the wheel of fortune and strength
BRITANNIA VILLAGE IS OFFICIALLY OPEN
The community hub boasts renovated and restored mine town buildings that are now home to ice cream shops, restaurants, gift stores and more
INDIGO LEMAY-CONWAY
ilemayconway@squamishchief.com
It’s been years in the making, but the Britannia Village is now officially open to the public
A grand opening for the hub was held on Aug. 23, which allowed for members of the public to check out the seven new businesses that now call Britannia Beach home.
The village features shops, restaurants, a child-care centre and services, each housed in nine original mine town buildings that were carefully restored and upgraded over the past years. All of which are located opposite the iconic Britannia Mine Museum.
The official opening ceremony included the cutting of a ribbon, speeches from those who were behind the project, and fun activities for kids like face painting and games.
SO WHO ARE THE TENANTS?
First on the list of businesses that took part in the grand opening day is Beaucoup Bakery & Cafe, whose new home is in a restored 1936 bunkhouse. The new outpost features a 50-seat space, as well as a 545-square-foot patio and offers a variety of Parisian-inspired delicacies
Guests can expect a menu featuring Beaucoup Bakery’s signature collection of pastries, viennoiseries, and sandwiches, as well as new and exclusive items not available at its other cafes such as doughnuts and après-ski fondue sets.
Next up is the new Britannia General Store which not only stocks local, high-quality groceries from suppliers such as Tree of Life and Avalon Dairy; it also features a cafe bar serving Umbria coffee, a liquor section with select wines and beer, and brick-oven-made pizza.
Copper & Fern is the third business on the block which offers boutique gifts to the local
community and tourists alike.
The items in store highlight locally made products for wellness, home and family.
Located inside the restored 70-year-old Britannia Mine community church building is Kawartha Dairy. It is open seven days a week from noon to 8 p.m., offering 35 flavours of ice cream, along with milkshakes and ice cream tubs to take home.
Copper Beach Bar + Kitchen brings the Irish pub vibes to the Britannia Beach
community.
The self-proclaimed laid-back venue offers fan favourite “pub grub” as well as Irish booze and has a patio with views of the museum and Howe Sound.
Feeling like something a little fancier? Head to Autostrada Oyster Bar and Grill.
With a focus on seafood and other seasonal ingredients to enhance and utilize the Sea to Sky’s food resources and community, the new restaurant will boast an oyster bar, a fireplace for the winter, and a patio for al-fresco dining
during the warmer months.
Wrapping up the venues that opened their doors during the grand opening is ARKA Yoga Collective. Described on their website as a “tiny hot yoga studio in a tiny town for all the movers, doers and fun havers in the Sea to Sky,” the studio offers in-studio classes, workshops and retreats.
For more information on the new businesses and what they have on offer, visit the Britannia Village website.
PHOTOS BY INDIGO LEMAY CONWAY/FOR THE SQUAMISH CHIEF
The new businesses at Britannia Village are now open The opening event on Aug. 23 included a welcome from representatives of the Squamish Nation and the unveiling of specially-commissioned carvings by artist Jim Charlie.
PEAK & POUR BRINGS VIETNAMESE COFFEE TO DOWNTOWN
The new cafe opened in late August
INDIGO LEMAY-CONWAY
ilemayconway@squamishchief.com
Take a peak into the newest cafe in downtown Squamish.
Kim Ho and her husband Justin Huyng soft opened the doors to Peak & Pour on Aug. 20 ahead of their grand opening this weekend.
The duo hope their Vietnamese inspired drinks will be a hit with locals and visitors alike to Cleveland Avenue.
With a long-cherished dream to open her own cafe, Ho said she was thrilled to bring a taste of her hometown to Squamish
“I’ve been working in hospitality, in food and beverage, for seven years, mostly in cafes,” Ho told The Squamish Chief.
“I love cafes [and] always wanted to have my own.”
WHAT’S ON OFFER
Coffee with a Vietnamese twist.
“Besides [offering] some classic coffee, we are also bringing something new, something special. I am from Vietnam, so I grew up with Vietnamese coffee … and I hope people [here] like it.”
Ho explained that their Vietnamese coffee is made using a metal filter, called a phin, which brews the coffee slowly over time. Traditionally it is served with condensed milk, a key component that will be included in the drinks at Peak & Pour
“Vietnamese coffee is special. It’s really strong, you may get shocked at first, but the more you drink it, the more you like it,” Huyng said
“We tried to bring the most popular coffee in Vietnam, which is the egg cream coffee It’s really popular in the north. Most people from Saigon drink coffee every morning, including myself I cannot live without coffee
“So we [wanted] to bring something traditional, but also something new here.”
Some of their Vietnamese specialty drink offers include the Saigon special, egg cream coffee, ube cream coffee and pistachio matcha.
“We also have a kid-friendly menu. We are family oriented. So I want everyone in the family to be able to have something,” Ho said.
They even have puppuccinos for your furry friends.
“I want everyone to enjoy their time [here] even the dogs can be happy at our store,” she said with a laugh.
Peak & Pour also offers a number of food options including NYC jumbo cookies baked in-house, croffles (a hybrid of a croissant and waffle), fresh bowls and wraps, burgers and grilled cheese sandwiches.
Peak & Pour—which gets its name from the number of mountain peaks in the Sea to Sky—is located at 37979 Cleveland Ave.
It is currently open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For more information, visit the Peak & Pour website.
The Squamish Business Beat was developed in response to local demand for more business-focused news To be considered, please reach out to news@squamishchief.com
While funding for this coverage was provided, The Squamish Chief maintains full editorial control over all content.
Brought to you by Community Futures Howe Sound, The Sea to Sky’s resource for financing and free business support to help local businesses and entrepreneurs in the area Connect with them directly and learn more at cfhowesound.com or email Kieran at kieran.hale@cfhowesound.com.
PHOTOS BY INDIGO LEMAY-CONWAY/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF Peak & Pour owners are Kim Ho and Justin Huyng.
Community ChipperDays
Protectyour home and helpkeep your neighbourhood FireSmart®. If youare aresident of alisted area, youcan take the opportunityto for curbside chipping and removaloftrees and branches forfreeonthose dates!
Dentville September 8 Paradise Valley September 15–18
What’s Accepted:
Treelimbs and trunks smaller than 30 cm in diameter Branches 1cmorlarger in diameter
What is NOTAccepted:
Yard debris: Leaves, grass,weeds,dirt, sticks smaller than 1cmin diameter,rocks
Root balls
Construction waste Dirtyorsoiled wood
squamish.ca/firesmart
future of driving.
September 13, 10 am–1 pm
Junction Park
Join us to explore a variety of electric vehicles, learn about EV ownership, and get your questions answered.
CAMPFIRE BAN remainsineffect squamish.ca/fireban
Check out the arena schedule:
squamish.ca/rec/arenaschedule
uatic Centre CLOSED or Maintenance and Renovation Work
September 3 to October 17
We know you love our Aquatic Centre so we understand the inconvenience that closures cause for our community
The good news? This year’s extended closure will help keep he renovation work on track wards completion.
a s for your patience!
Baby &Me/ Infant Massage with Mountain Mamas
Breathe,stretch, strengthen, laugh, cryand sharewith other mamas in asafeand supportive environment.This class is best suited fornon-mobile or crawling babies.
Wednesdays,10:30 –11:15 am
Fall Guide Registration Tuesday, September 9
Review our “hot tips” beforeregistration day at squamish.ca/rec
During Stage 2, the hand watering of trees, flowers,and shrubs is allowed anyday from 6–9 am and 7–10 pm.
Hand watering of vegetable gardens is allowed any dayatany time
Lawn watering with asprinkler is allowed one day per week based on neighbourhood:
•Odd numbered addresses: 6–9 am
•Evennumbered addresses: 7–10 pm.
Monday Valleycliffe, Hospital Hill and SEAandSKY
TuesdayDowntown
Wednesday Dentville,Business Park and North Yards
Thursday Loggers LaneEast and UniversityHighlands
FridayGaribaldi Highlands
SaturdayGaribaldi Estates
SundayBrackendale
Weareseekingenthusiastic,energizedand fun-lovingindividualswholoveflexiblework hourstojointheDistrict’srecreationteam! LIFEGUARD1
Construction Progress at WoodfibreLNG
TheWoodfibreLNG site is taking shape. On land,crews are progressing on foundations afterplacing the pipe rack modules.Offshore, piling hasbegun forthe first permanent supports forthe floating storage tank —amajor step in marine construction.
Allmarine work is supportedbymarine mammal observers and hydroacoustic monitoring.These safeguardspause work if underwater sound nears regulatory limits or if marine mammals enterexclusionzones
We’reproud to be building the world’sfirst net zero LNG exportfacilitysafely,responsibly,and under the oversightof the Sḵwxwú7meshÚxwumixw (Squamish Nation) —follow us to see howit’staking shaperight hereinSquamish.
woodfibrelng.ca/news
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EDITOR
JENNIFERTHUNCHER jthuncher@ squamishchief.com follow @thuncher
REPORTER
INDIGO LEMAYCONWAY ilemayconway@ squamishchief.com
REPORTER INAPACE inapace@ squamishchief.com
SALESMANAGER
CATHIE GREENLEES cgreenlees@ squamishchief.com
MULTI- MEDIASALES REPRESENTATIVE KIMBOATMAN kboatman@ squamishchief.com
CIRCULATION MANAGER
DENISE CONWAY dconway@ squamishchief.com
PUBLISHER SARAHSTROTHER sstrother@wplpmedia.com
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EDITORIAL
THIS ELECTION MATTERS
The countdownis on to theSḵwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw(Squamish Nation)election. Onlinevotingopens Sept.15and closes on Sept. 28,which is also thein-person voting day.
Mail-in ballotshavetoberequested by Sept.15 and returned by Sept.26.
This is amassively importantelectionfor the Nation andits members, butalsofor thenon-Indigenousgeneral public.The Nation hasbecome increasingly powerful,and itsleaders will have a largesay in what happenson aprovincial, regional, and locallevel goingforward
Just this year,sofar,has seen thesigning of aland use agreement(Xay Temíxw)between theprovince andthe Nation that adds 20,000 hectares of legally protected land to theNation’sterritory in the Squamishareaand thesigning of thememorandum ofunderstanding betweenthe District andthe Nation.
Thememorandumoutlinespotential land back initiatives, increasedinfluence over community planning decisions, andother collaborativeefforts withthe District.
Outsideof Squamish,think of themammoth project to rebuildthe ancestralvillage of Senáḵw, the6,000-unitrentalhousing developmentin Vancouver.Justlast week,the Nation announcedit has secured100%ownership of Phases Threeand Fourof theproject,a“massive step”towardthe Nation’sgoalofself-sufficiency, as councilchair Khelsilemsaidinhis letter to members.
The leaderschosenthismonth will shepherd the Nation forthe next four years.
TheNationhas atotal of 4,730members.Inthe 2021election, 1,034ballots were cast by itsmembers.
Thiselectionis awatershed eventaswellbecause of thechanges to theNationcouncil’s structure, with areturnto16members,upfromeight.
Thechairperson’s seat hasbeenacclaimed by Sxwíxwtn Wilson Williams,leaving 32 people vying forthe 15 remainingcouncil seats.
This time around,regions—likethe Squamish Valley—willnot be representedby theirown councillors, butitisstill noteworthy that at least10of the candidates arefromSquamish.
Therewillbean all-candidates meetingfor members at TotemHallinthe coming days,though the original date of Sept.6had to be rescheduleddue tothe GranFondoimpacting transportation to it.
Non-Nationmembers canhaveadetailedlookat thecandidatesand theirplatforms in theSquamish Nation GeneralElectionMeetthe Candidates Bookletavailable online.
Assummermorphsintofall, both Nation members and non-membersshouldpay closeattention to candidates’ platformsand actions—decisionsmade now will shapeour shared future.
JOFFRELAKES CLOSINGTOVISITORS IS INEVITABLE
recreation area in 1988,and in 1996 it became an official provincial park,protectingitfrom commercial andindustrialdevelopments. Butitneeds more protection now—from us Over thecourseofalmost30years as aprovincial park,the impact of visitation hasincreased an orderofmagnitude each decade
There’s no wayaroundit anymore.
Pipi7íyekw/JoffreLakes Provincial Park needstoclose.Whether it’s forweeks, months, seasonsor years—howeverlongit needs to heal.Despite BC Parkscapping thenumberof visitors perday anddoing itsbesttomanage dangerousparking practicesonthe Duffey Lake Road,ithasn’tbeenenough. This pristine placeis overrun.
Thereare respectful park usersinthose crowds; folkswho obey signage, pack outtheir trashand don’t feed alreadyobese whiskeyjacks forthe sake of an Instagramstory.But thereare many disrespectfulparkusers in thosecrowds, too, many whoaren’taware of theiractions,orwho don’t care enough to change theirbehaviour.They tramplesensitive ground vegetation to take lame selfies, leavetrash behind andgenerally treatthis backcountryareaasifitwereanamusement park.
Pipi7íyekw/JoffreLakes Provincial Park lies on thetraditional territoryofthe Líl’watand N’QuatquaNations.Itwas firstestablished as a
We allknowthe reasons. Around 2013,BCParks beganupgrading thehikingtrail to agravelpath that made it easier than ever to access thesecond andthird lakes. Then came Instagram, thepeople whocallthemselves“influencers,”and thepeople whocouldn’tlivewithout aphoto on that damn log(colloquially knownasthe “instalog,”itoften hasalineupofdozensofpeople, allwanting the same picturesque photothatconvenientlycrops outthe hordesofparkvisitorsonthe shores of the lake).
In 2017,dogswerebanned. This wasinevitable givenhow much dogshitwasn’tgetting picked up by owners,muchofitgetting left to contaminate thewaterways andthe lakesthemselves. In 2019, theparkreached an all-time high of 196,300 visitors,which wasanincreaseof222%since 2010. In 2022,following successful implementation in otherBCParks,visitorsneededtoregisterfor a free day-usepasstoaccessPipi7íyekw/Joffre
COLUMN: Continuedon11
Ha7lh skwálwen cht kwis emút cht iy sts’its’áp’ cht iy kw’shétsut cht na7tkwa temíxw tl’a Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw
(We have good feelings that we live, we work and we play on the lands of the Squamish Nation)
Continued from 10
Lakes Provincial Park This did help with people traffic, and especially with the dangerous parking that was taking place alongside Highway 99
On Aug. 22, the Líl’wat and N’Quatqua Nations held a two-hour protest, blocking access to the park past Mount Currie. BC Parks had ignored the Nations’ request to increase the closure dates from 60 days in 2024 to 103 days in 2025 BC Parks agreed to close the park for just 68 days
“This is not reconciliation,” Dean Nelson, political chief of Lil’wat Nation told the CBC ahead of the protest. “This is a continuation of colonial decision-making, you know, disregarding our needs and values on the land.”
The Minister of Environment, Tamara Davidson, was interviewed on Aug. 21 by CBC’s On the Coast program and was pressed by host Gloria Macarenko on why BC Parks was not coming to the table on lengthening the closures.
“It’s a really hard challenge to find a balance between many people who want to come and have that same experience,” the minister said. “When we have visitors that are experiencing that same connection to the land,
SQUAMISH NOT WORLD CLASS
Editor’s note This letter was addressed to The Squamish Chief, The District of Squamish, and Tourism Squamish
I had a wonderful chat with a representative of Tourism Squamish over the weekend, and the comment was made to me that my feedback was welcome if I had any comments As a 40-year active recreation resident of Squamish, I do have a few!
Let’s start with the Stawamus Chief Provincial Park: It currently has 400,000 visitors a year, and the infrastructure is inadequate to meet this demand. The area behind the “standing rock” on the first peak trail is surrounded by shit as there is no toilet on the trail. At the campground there is
they’re the ones that are really going to fight hard to make sure that land is protected.”
Turning visitors into stewards is a romantic notion But if you’ve hiked Joffre Lakes in the last few years, you know these handfuls of stewards are fighting a losing battle against the hordes, just like the BC Park rangers and staff are.
The Nations have stated they want this time for their cultural practices, such as hunting, fishing, harvesting medicines and engaging in spiritual activities As Casey Gonzalez of Líl’wat Nation put it in an interview with Global News: “Our community members do not want to be gawked or watched as they do their cultural ceremonies.”
The discrepancy on the appropriate amount of closure between BC Parks and the two Nations puts park users in an awkward position (at least the users who consider the needs of others above their own). Officially, BC Parks will close the park from Sept. 2 to Oct. 3. But the Nations have asked everyone to respect their wishes and not enter the park during their Reconnection Periods between Aug. 22 and Oct. 23. The aforementioned cultural ceremonies are part of a larger goal to assist the
well-being of the two Nations’ community members as they look for traditional methods to help cope with grief, addictions, suicide and mental health The other goal is to give the area some time to heal from the trampling of thousands of visitors every weekend.
The solution is simple Do not go to Joffre Lakes when the traditional owners of the land ask you not to visit. BC Parks is trying to balance the Nations’ needs with the rights of its citizens to access provincial parks. So it’s up to you—the individual—to make the right decision
This isn’t about wokeism or capitulation We (the visitors on this land) are the ones who blew it We succumbed to the alluring internet portrayals of this beautiful place. We fed our egos in an attempt to replicate that portrayal for our own social media accounts If we lose access to Pipi7íyekw/Joffre Lakes Provincial Park altogether, it won’t be the fault of the traditional owners, or oven BC Parks. It will be our own doing.
Vince Shuley doesn’t want you to love it to death. For questions, comments or suggestions for The Outsider, email vince. shuley@gmail.com or Instagram @ whis_vince.
Do you support the closure of Joffre Lakes? QUESTION OF THE
Have your say at squamishchief.com
How would you rate your 2025 Squamish summer? (Top 3)
no dish-washing sinks, no picnic tables in the campsites, no showers, and the port-a-potties are completely inadequate for the huge demand A 20-person line up to take a pee (especially for women), is not world class.
Moving on now to the Smoke Bluffs Park: There are hundreds of climbing families with small children on the Blind Channel on weekend days, and once again no toilet exists Conflicts with aggressive bikers and e-bikes are a growing problem, and indeed there was a severe accident two weeks ago with a collision on the dangerous paved trail that connects the Adventure Centre with Brennan Park. With no sightlines because of the tight curves, it is safer to walk on the shoulder of the road.
I would like to finish with a
The Squamish Chief welcomes letters to the editor of up to 400 words. Letters should
comment about the lack of camping facilities in Squamish The closure of the Municipal Campground after the COVID pandemic is an embarrassment to Squamish There is a huge amount of abandoned land that can be converted to RV parking around the decrepit Loggers’ Sports grounds, at very little expense to the municipality It would require a few toilets, a fence, and actual enforcement of rules and regulations by the bylaw enforcement officers of Squamish
Thanks for listening to my feedback, we do a lot to promote recreation in Squamish but little to support the infrastructure that is needed for both locals and visitors.
Peder Ourom Squamish
Most wildfires near Squamish now out, Klinker Ridge blaze being held
published with the letter The publisher
and edit letters for length and clarity or to address legal concerns Email letters to: editor@squamishchief.com
COLUMN:
View this ad online:
InfrastructureUpgrades
•Installation work on thewatermain near Bill’s Place has been paused and will resume mid-September.
•Sanitaryliftstation rehabilitation on PiaRoad continues
•Watermain upgrade on Birken Road continues.
• Xwu’nekwParkSea Dike upgrades continues.
•Anongoing culvertreplacementatthe hairpin turn on Skyline Drivewill causetraffic impacts
• Work on theVictoriaStreet ActiveTransportation Upgrades continues
Crosswalk Installations and Safety Upgrades:
•GovernmentRoad beside Watershed Grill
•Buckley Avenue at Dentville Park
•Queens WayatResolution Way
•Queens Waybetween CommercialWay and Pioneer Way squamish.ca/building-our-future
Business Opportunities
Requestsfor Proposals
•Powerhouse Springs Well 8Design&Consultation
•Paradise Valley DryHydrant Engineering Services squamish.ca/doing-business-with-the-district
DevelopmentReview
•40340 Tantalus Road -DevelopmentPermit
•38921 Queens Way-Rezoning squamish.ca/review
2025-2029 Financial Plan
TheDistrict’s2025-2029 Financial Plan is now available online in acompleteand detailed printable version with new and improved user-friendly features. squamish.ca
NoticeofBylawReadings forZoningAmendment
TuesdaySeptember 16, 2025, at 6p.m. in Council ChambersatMunicipalHall,37955 Second Avenue,Squamish, British Columbia.
Noticeisherebygiven in accordance with Section 467 of the Local Government Act,thatDistrictofSquamish Councilwill be consideringfirst,second andthird reading of DistrictofSquamishZoningBylaw No.2200, 2011,AmendmentBylaw (Six Units Near aFrequentBus Route) No.3170, 2025.
AffectedLands
Properties zoned R-1 andR-4 within 400 metres of afrequentbus route.
Proposed
BylawAmendment
The purpose of the proposed bylawis to add adefinitionoffrequentbus routeto the Zoning Bylawand to permit up to six units on properties zoned R-1 and R-4 thatare locatedwithin 400 metres ofafrequentbus route, as set out in Section 4,General Regulations.A frequentbus routeis defined by specific transitservice frequencycriteria. At present, nobus routeinthe Districtmeet this definition. These regulations will only be applicable once abus routemeetsthe required servicefrequency.
When TuesdaySeptember 16, 2025,at6p.m.
Where
Council Chambers at Municipal Hall,37955 SecondAvenue,Squamish B.C.
No Public Hearing
In accordancewith Provincial housing legislation, Section 464(3) of the Local GovernmentAct,local governments arenow prohibitedfromholding public hearings relatedtorezoningapplications fordevelopments thatare primarily residential and areconsistentwith the local government’sOfficialCommunity Plan (OCP). This proposal meets those requirements.
HowtoViewthe Proposed Bylaw
Acopy of the proposed bylawand relatedinformation thathas been or maybe considered by Council may be inspectedonline or at Municipal Hall Online at: squamish.ca/showcase
Municipal Hall at 37955 Second Avenue,Squamish, British Columbia, from September 4, 2025 to September 16, 2025 between 8:30 a.m.and 4:30 p.m., Mondaythrough Friday.
Enquiries regarding the proposedamendmentbylawmay be madetothe Planning Departmentat604.815.5002 or by email to planning@squamish.ca.
Thisisthe first of twopublications, datedthis 4th dayofSeptember 2025 at Squamish, British Columbia.
MINISTER OUTLINES HOUSING GOALS AND SUPPORT FOR INCREASED DEVELOPMENT
A newly released letter from B.C.’s Minister of Housing outlines an ambitious five-year target requiring the District of Squamish to construct over a thousand new residential units
JENNIFER THUNCHER jthuncher@squamishchief.com
Aletter from the Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs, Christine Boyle, to Mayor Armand Hurford provides further details about the housing targets the province has set for Squamish.
The letter was included in the public council agenda for Sept. 2 and is in response to a letter from the mayor to the minister on July 15.
The province has issued a five-year Housing Target Order to Squamish for 1,069 units, which is the total minimum number of net new completed housing units required to be built by 2030.
The province says this is 75% of the total provincial housing needs estimate for the District
The letter states that the province anticipates this number to play out as:
•Year 1: 160 units built
•Year 2: 331
•Year 3: 529
•Year 4: 770
•Year 5: 1,069
Boyle wrote that this “is the minimum number of net-new units measured cumulatively each year for the five-year period of the order. The District of Squamish should strive to achieve 100% of the estimated housing need over the duration of the order.”
The letter includes what Boyle calls “guidance” on how the number of units should break down.
The suggestion is for 747 of the total units to be rental units and 322 to be owned.
Of the rental units, the suggestion is for 154 to be below market, and 591 non-market
Of the below market, the guidance is for 23 to have on-site supports, meaning supports to provide permanent housing for people to transition out of homelessness.
Of all the units, 615 should be studio or one-bedroom (with a suggested 251-minimum for one-bedroom units), 195 two-bedroom units, and 257 three or more bedroom units.
The District has to submit progress reports to the ministry at intervals throughout the five-year period; two reports in 2026 and one every year thereafter The reports must also be published on the District’s website.
Last month, Hurford told The Squamish Chief about some of his concerns where the housing targets were concerned.
“One of the challenges with the targets is, I understand what the province is trying to accomplish here; however, where they’re measured is really challenging because, yes, we have control over rezoning areas and all these
types of things, but we don’t have control over individual landowners’ finances or the actual piece that triggers a building permit, like to actually build it,” he said
“So, I see some challenges with being sort of held to account, to something where we don’t have all the control, but at the same time, I think it’s entirely possible. I also think you could argue that we’ve been meeting our virtual housing targets for quite some time. And I don’t know that anyone in Squamish thinks that developments are happening too slowly.”
The minister writes in her letter that she heard these concerns and that they are addressed through the target review process.
“I understand that the District can facilitate but not compel development and that housing delivery is dependent on external factors outside the District’s control,” she wrote. “Annual progress reporting provides the opportunity to report on the policy actions the District has put forward to help create the conditions to meet targets, as well as outline any factors constraining the District’s ability to meet targets. This information will be taken into consideration when assessing progress to achieve targets.”
In regard to having enough transit to match the increase in population, the minister pointed to recent expansions of local BC Transit service.
“The province is adding frequency to ‘1 Brackendale’ and ‘2 Highlands’ routes with improvements to service on Route 3 and weekend service on frequent transit networks,” she said “There will also be improvements to
oceanfront service and new service to areas of South Squamish A total of 6,800 hours of service will also be added annually, starting in September 2025 into early 2026.”
Regarding other transportation projects in Squamish, the minister said the Ministry of Transportation and Transit staff have been in discussions with District of Squamish staff about the intersection of Mamquam Road and Highway 99, as well as the Pemberton Bridge
She said these discussions will continue “on future transportation needs and improvements.”
The minister also praised the District for its work thus far in addressing the housing crunch.
“I appreciate the District of Squamish’s substantial efforts to enable housing development in the District and recognize the significant work completed toward enabling 10,000 dwelling units at various stages of the development pipeline,” she wrote. “I am encouraged by the policies, initiatives, and programs the District has initiated to speed up and support housing development, including the important work to enable much-needed affordable housing.”
PHOTO BY AUGHINGMANGO/ ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS A Squamish housing development under construction
WILDFIRE PHOTO WINS NATIONAL AWARD FOR LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER
A haunting image of scorched moss glowing with embers has earned Squamish-based wildlife photographer top honours
INA PACE
Local
Journalism Initiative reporter
Wildlife photographer Jillian A. Brown is all about juxtaposition, as some of her latest work suggests
Her winning photo in Canadian Geographic’s 2025 Flora and Fungi category, which was announced last month, is a clear depiction of contrast in life and death, but its symbolism carries a more personal meaning, not only for Brown as an artist, but specifically as a mental health advocate for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
For context, Brown’s winning photo shows the “deadly beauty of flames consuming moss on a rock face,” as described by Canadian Geographic’s website.
Brown told The Squamish Chief that she had worked to captivate not only the immediate drama of June’s wildfire at Dryden Creek, but most importantly, the overarching theme of collective community in her work
With potential tragedy and trauma, there came beauty in moments of the wildfire, and not just, it seems, in the physical sense.
The Squamish Chief spoke with Brown about her motives in capturing scenes from the
wildfire as a whole, and also those in her inspiration behind her winning photo’s submission. What follows is a version of that conversation edited for length and clarity.
Q: I’m curious to know exactly what the general interpretation of your winning photo was, because it took me a couple of glances before I realized it wasn’t some apocalyptic aerial shot, but actually a close-up. To me, it looks almost illusory.
A: It’s so funny that you say that I knew the whole situation and what I was photographing, [but] I never ever saw this I got so many comments and private messages of people asking how I got that photo. People were
saying, “You can’t fly drones!” And so I actually had to do a video explaining the photo, because I was worried people were, for one, getting the wrong perception, and also that people were thinking I was doing something that you’re not supposed to do Drones are not allowed within nine kilometres of a forest fire Once I looked at the photo, and I could see where they were coming from, I honestly viewed it as what it was [to me], but it’s been really neat to hear that people view it that way, and just how much people can see a photograph so differently, especially if they don’t have the story or the context exactly.
Q: A good photo can tell a story within a story. It’s like a piece of art. Regardless of other people’s interpretations, what was going through your head when you took that photo, and why did you decide to submit that photo in particular to the competition?
A: I entered a lot of photos into that competition, and I entered all the categories because ultimately they have a grand prize winner, and that’s often a goal—to be the grand prize winner—but that photo was the only photo that I submitted into that category, because I don’t photograph flora and fungi very much I like landscapes, typically animals.
the water being dropped, to close-ups like this on your Instagram. Was there a particular narrative you were following with your photos?
A: A big focus for me was showcasing the overall story of the community going through this I was trying to photograph all the different first responder services, as well as all the people, and then the fire around them, too. [I wanted to] showcase everything put into this to protect a community, no matter how small or big. I was photographing [the campers] as they were putting water on this fire and trudging through thick forest to do so
Q: How have your adventures as a nature lover and photographer, as well as your mental health advocacy, influenced your approach?
A: I’ve always corresponded my adventures with mental health, and I think it’s actually more my learning about mental health and PTSD that has given me the compassionate eye. Also, the ability to be empathetic while doing my job. So many photographers will just try to show the drama, and to me, I don’t think that’s empathetic to a situation.
[My work is] about documentation. For me, that’s my favourite thing. I can showcase a story, whether it’s an animal interacting in the wild, the forest fires, or people on adventures Flora and fungi often don’t, in my mind, showcase a story because it’s [just] sitting there. It’s very often very stagnant photos, [even though] lots of photographers do incredible work at making these things come alive. So when I found out that photo won, it blew my mind, but it was a photo I was really proud of.
I had a lot of conversations with the people who were scared, at their homes on Depot Road, in particular when the camera was down, and I was just talking to them as humans and as people [I heard] their stories and how that first night was, and they were up all night, listening to the boulders crashing towards their homes and things Well, I could have photographed the tears in their eyes, or the way they were kind of chuckling because they didn’t know what emotion to feel So I think it’s a lot more related to my experiences and my knowledge of dealing with my own mental health and PTSD than actually having similar experiences.
Q: On a lighter note, what happens now that you’ve won this category, does this change anything for you?
The story behind it for me makes it even better. It won just because I was so immersed within what was going on with the fire in Squamish, [which] was a big part of me wanting to submit it.
A: You get published in Canadian Geographic and get a subscription, which is awesome. Those are always fantastic things, because you get to have your work out there.
Also, just the way the fire was moving within the photo, with the little twinkles of sunlight breaking through really thick bush, and hitting little bits of the rock and the embers within the burned moss It came across as such a juxtaposition of death and life, because moss is so related to a very flourishing life, especially in Squamish, with it being a temperate rainforest I thought it was just so beautiful: the juxtaposition of life and death within the one thing causing both This particular photo was taken from one of the campground spots, and it was the last spot where there was a camper, and he wasn’t able to move his trailer. And so they all came together and got it out of there. This photo was taken right as the fire was 20 feet from the spot. They were grabbing hoses and putting water on ... Their instinct was to protect their livelihood.
Q: What was the first thing you thought to capture in photographing June’s wildfire? I’ve seen everything from helicopters and
But for me, the important thing is that this is a photo that has such a personal story. I hope that people see the connection to my community with it, and to me, because flora and fungi are not something I think about photographing. It’s making me think maybe I should push myself to photograph these things a little bit more
There was something so beautiful about a really simple thing: If that fire hadn’t been there, nobody would have made a double take of that photo; that little bit of fire added this dimension to it.
It isn’t necessarily about winning; it’s about the fact that right when that forest fire happened, I pushed myself to go out and talk to people, and then [they invited] me to go to the campground. I’m proud that I put in that effort because I was out there all day, some days engaging with the community. I’m more proud of that than actually winning.
PHOTO BY JILLIAN A. BROWN The winning image.
MINE MUSEUM.
gratefully acknowledges theircommunity sponsors:
Q&AWITHGLENNECAMPBELLOFTHE BRACKENDALEFALLFAIR
Eventbringsthe
communitytogetherunder
thetheme ‘The people go throughittogether’
WILL JOHNSON
ForThe Squamish Chief
Ifyou’renot into cycling—or evenifyou are—whynot race azucchini?
Forthree decadesnow—minus afew years when it wascancelled due to thepandemic—the BrackendaleFallFairhas been attracting crowds to theBrackendale FarmersInstitute Park foran annual extravaganza that routinelyseesover 6,000 people stampeding throughthe grounds.
If youmakeitdowntothe fair on Saturday, Sept.6—yes,the same dayasthe RBC GranFondo Whistler rollsthrough town—you can expect to hear live localmusic providingthe soundscapetoanevent that includes apetting zoo,hay rides, mini-golf, vendors, educational booths andquixoticofferings like theeverpopularzucchiniraces.
TheSquamish Chiefconnected with fair producer Glenne Campbell to learnmore. What followsisa versionofthatexchange edited forlengthand clarity.
Q: What is thelegacyofthe BrackendaleFall Fair?
A: Firstfounded in 1915,the focusofthe Squamish FarmersInstitute (asitwas called then) wastoeducate people in agricultureand
to host yearly exhibits of localproduce and products.Documents indicate theannualfall fair washeldonSept. 4, 1922.Thisassociation wasinstrumentalinformingthe Squamish Credit Unionin1944.
Thelandheldbythe Squamish Farmers Institute wassold off duetoa lack of available
farmersand volunteers beingbusywiththe war effort of theSecondWorld War. In 1957, membershad thevisiontoset B.C. Crown land asideasparkland. In 1991,aresurrected FarmersInstitute wasrenamed the BrackendaleFarmers Institute.
TheBrackendale FallFairhas been held in twolocations:the OldBrennan Farm on BrennanRoadand thecurrent Brackendale FarmersInstitute Park on Government Road Over theyears,the fall fair hasprovided supporttonumerouscommunity groups in termsoffinancial supportand showcasing them to thepublicatthe fall fair
Q: Howisthisyear’sevent different? Howisit thesame?
A: This town relies on many community organizationstomakethe town work.The uniqueness ofthe fall fair is howmany communityorganizations have booths where people canlearn aboutwhatthe organization does forour community, andhow people can support either by volunteering theirtimeor providingdonations.All ofthe community groupsstrivetomakethe town healthierand a placewhere peoplecan participate. Weexpecttosee alot ofnew facesatthe fall fair this year.Wehaveimprovedthe entry gateswithtall, vertical flagssoattendees can enteratthree differentgates:
1. Pre-sold tickets
2. Card (creditordebit)
3. Cash
People canget ticketsonline.
Q: “The people go throughittogether.”Can youexplain thesignificanceofthis phrase?
A: This phrase is from therecentmemorandum of understandingsignedbySḵwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (SquamishNation) andthe District of Squamish.Itreferstoactioning Truthand Reconciliation,aswellas adapting to allthe changeshappening right here in this area
Q: What is thegeneral vibe you’re goingfor?
A: Family is everything.Stayhealthy,beagood neighbourand celebratesummer’sbounty of food,friends andsharing.
Q: Whichexhibits/eventsare youmost excitedfor?
A: Whodoesn’t like thezucchinirace, the biggestpumpkin contest, thepaint spinner or seeing Sassy?
Thefairisalwaysagreat dayout forall families—activities, food,music,exhibits, farm animals, haywagon ridesand vendors galore
(Dogsstayathome—thefarm critters appreciate that.)
Exhibitentries areonFriday, Sept.5,from 4:25 to 6:30 p.m. Fair dayisSaturday, Sept.6,from10to5p.m
FILE PHOTOINDIGOLEMAY CONWAY/THE SQUAMISH CHIEF The2024Brackendale Fall Fair waswellattended.
RBC GRANFONDO ROLLS BACK THROUGH TOWN THIS WEEKEND
Cyclists start in Vancouver and end in Whistler
WILL JOHNSON
For The Squamish Chief
It’s kind of like a marathon for cyclists
On Sept 6, more than 5,000 cyclists will complete the beautiful and punishing route from Stanley Park in Vancouver all the way to Whistler Village, but for many participants, it’s less about who finishes first and more about proving themselves equal to the Herculean task of finishing the 16th annual RBC GranFondo.
For Squamish mountain biker Rowan Minnion, it’s been the goal he’s had in mind since injuring his ACL at the Whistler Bike Park last July. As a representative of Blonyx, the hydration sponsor for the GranFondo, he’s been a longtime admirer of the event. But this year will be the first time he’s strapped in for the long haul himself.
“This race is iconic I’m an athlete at heart, and I needed something to train for. I thought, ‘Why not train for the FonDo?’ I’m normally a mountain biker, but this has given me purpose. From Stanley Park to Whistler, you go up over 2,000 metres, and I know the endurance part is going to hurt: the saddle soreness, the achiness of the knees,” he told The Squamish Chief.
“That’s the part I’m not used to, so that’s what I’ll have to overcome.”
Minnion said it’s also a great opportunity for Blonyx, a local company, as they play an integral role in getting racers to their destination
“We’re a sport nutrition brand for people with athletic ambition—people who train with purpose to do tomorrow something they can’t do today,” he said.
“We provide electrolytes and drinks at every aid station, so we have staff mixing up drinks, filling water bottles and keeping people on the road.”
In past years, the GranFondo has drawn some locals’ frustration because it closes down the Sea to Sky for half a day, effectively cleaving the community in two and disrupting people’s travel plans. But Minnion feels the inconvenience is well worth it
“Not everybody is against it I met with some people who take bacon out of their houses that back onto the highway. They take these trays out and hand bacon to the riders on their way up. I love that the community comes out and embraces the race in that way.”
TRAINING FOR THE BIG DAY
It takes a lot of preparation.
Depending on their ambition, participants can complete either the 55-kilometre Medio, the 122-km GranFondo or the 152-km Forte. To help prepare participants, Sport Med BC offers 14 clinics on the Mainland and Vancouver Island to help them wrap their heads around
what they’re about to do.
According to executive director Bob Joncas, they see cyclists of all levels of ability.
“Part of our mandate is to support British Columbians to stay healthy, or be healthy. The main thing we’ve been doing is supporting runners to do the Vancouver Sun Run, but eight years ago we were contacted by the GranFondo to help with training for cyclists,” he said.
Their program is 12 weeks long, and can be done both in-person and virtually.
“People meet in person with a coach once a week, and they go through the planned training We have a coach and a sweep who follows behind in case something happens. We have beginner, intermediate and advanced levels all focused on refining and improving your time,” he said.
“There are many reasons people do it, but mostly people will join because they have no clue. It can be a lot to deal with, and be stressful as well We see a lot of anxiety, so they join so they can get ready and be prepared and understand what it’s all about,” he said
“We have people who join on Day 1 who have
never been on a bike. They have questions like ‘What should I eat?’, ‘When do I drink?’, ‘Should I stop?’, ‘What if I have to go to the bathroom?’ We explain all those little things.”
“People join our clinics because they want to build their confidence, but there’s also a social aspect that becomes really strong where you’re meeting friends and new people. Maybe there’s someone riding your pace or speed and you say, ‘Let’s do it together.’”
Joncas personally visits every clinic during the 12 weeks they’re running, competes in the GranFondo himself, then provides a certificate of achievement to all the clinic participants once they cross the finish line.
OLYMPIC LEGACY
The GranFondo began as an Olympic legacy project, and organizers are well aware that an event of this magnitude may not have happened otherwise—especially considering the number of cities involved and the fact that the highway is closed for the entire route.
“We’re well aware that this event, if it were to start today, wouldn’t happen It just happened that the right people were in the right place at
It’s an international destination event now, with incredible backing from the province and the cities.
OLI CARTMELL
the right time back then We’re incredibly lucky,” said Oli Cartmell, marketing director of the GranFondo.
“It’s an international destination event now, with incredible backing from the province and the cities. In the world of cycling events, there are very few in North America that have closed roads the whole way.”
According to Cartmell, participants have reported that the views are a huge part of the appeal
“You add the iconic scenery of the Sea to Sky and the beautiful landscapes, and it’s like heaven. We’re very grateful. Nobody’s going to forget crossing the Lions Gate Bridge when the sun’s just coming up,” he said
“Then you pass Horseshoe Bay and there’s a little rest stop, you see Howe Sound open up, and it makes the hairs on your neck prick up Certainly, you’re not bored.”
The race has faced a number of logistical challenges, such as hotel space and a shortage of bus drivers to transport racers back down. Organizers also recognize that the ticket prices are prohibitively high for some, something they’ve tried to mitigate by freezing the rate for team participants
As for people frustrated with the closed highway, Cartmell said the GranFondo is keen to ameliorate these issues by coming up with dynamic solutions.
“We love engaging with local communities, and of course, we know the GranFondo not only goes through Squamish but participants also travel back through Squamish, so we put a lot of time and effort into creating a space for people to engage with us,” he said
“Ideas like everybody travelling back through can show a medal and get some sort of promo at a local business, ideas like that, we’re very interested and we’re only limited by people’s desire to engage.”
Ticket sales are surging at the moment, having passed 5,000 with an anticipated additional 500 coming before race day.
“We really do try to be best in class and outdo people’s expectations, which are already high.”
Go to the GranFondo website to learn more about the event, including traffic impacts on the day.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Rowan Minnion will be riding in the GranFondo this weekend.
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Krystal Lyn Meen
July18, 1985 –September 4, 2005
You’ll neverbeforgotten
That simply cannot be As long as Iamliving I’llcarry you with me I wish Ihadone more chance Tosee thattendersmile.
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Love andMissyou Mum
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O’DONNELL,Ross Robertso
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It is with greatsadness thatweannounce the passing of Ross Robertson O’Donnell, adevoted husband, father,son, brother,and friend.
Ross is survived by his beloved wife Heather andtheir sons Carter (15) and Matthew (13). He also leaves his parents
Wanda and Ken O’Donnell, sister Faye, grandmother Esther McAfee, and uncle Warren McAfee.Hewas predeceasedbyhis grandfather,also namedRoss. Ross is deeply missed by Heather’sparents Doris and Dave Gerrand, and siblings Mike, Andrew,and Lindsay with their families
Ross lived with energyand warmth, makingeveryone around him feelwelcome. Askilled carpenter,hepoured his creativity into projects for his boys, friends,and neighbors. Aformer national-calibre canoeist, he embraced adventure and sport with enthusiasm, turning everyday moments into lasting stories.
Above all, Ross believed in kindness and fairness. He was the neighbor who lent toolsand stayed to help, the friend who showed up without hesitation, and theprotector whostood upfor the vulnerable. He lived with deep love for people and unshakable devotion to family ARoss O’Donnell MemorialFund has been created at Coast Mountain Academy t rt the woodworking program.Contributions may be made by ili coastmountainacademy.ca(please include Ross Memorial in the n acyoflove, courage, and generosity will live on in the countless lives he
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Component
Inquire
On the pinnacle
PBS scienceshow
Game cube
“The Lion King” villain
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passing grade
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41.Age of note
43. Perches
47.Lords
51.October’sstone
52. Great respect
53. Take out, as text
54. Cleo’s river
55. Retrieve
56.Convinced
57.Heartymeatdish
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1. Hornet
2. Clearly outline
3. Wild pig
4. Spread out awkwardly
5. Raging fire
6.Finger’sopposite
7. Steer clear of
8. Better half
9. Summer cooler
10.Term of address
11. Crucial
17.Sub
19.Douses
22.Fairbooth
24.Involved with 25. Lacking fat
26.Does wrong
27.Lass
28. Operasolo
29.Period preceding Easter
30.Cowboy’sneed
33. Educated
36. Ship bottom
38. Stirring utensils
40.Minor role
42. Cincinnati nine
44.Barbecue attachment
45. Fish story
46. Largenumber
47.Pester
48. Be in arrears
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Crossword puzzle answers use American spelling
LASTWEEK’SANSWERS:
ARIES March 21-April 19
Beforecommittingtoa project, takeamomentto weighyouroptions.You mayoften prefer to do things alone; don’t forget that yourdecisions affect others.Prioritizeteamspirit in both yourpersonaland professional relationships.
TAURUS April 20-May20
This week,you’ll be under a lot of pressure and must juggle multiple responsibilities.Slow down and prioritizeresttoavoid burnout.Engageincalming activities,suchasmeditation, to help regain yourenergy
GEMINI May21-June 20
Your schedule is packedwith work and familycommitments. Make time to relaxand reconnect with lovedones you mayhaveneglected.Makethe mostofgoingout to lunchwith your colleagues
CANCER June 21-July 22
If work is overshadowing your relationship,plana romantic weekend to rekindle the spark. You’ll finallyfind the solution to resolvingafamilyconflict.
LEO July 23-Aug. 22
You’ll feel asurge of emotions
this week,especiallyasyou witnessone of yourchildren’s milestones.Whether it’s their first steps, agraduation or their first job, thismomentwill mark an emotional turningpointin yourlife
VIRGO Aug. 23-Sept.22
Beforemakinganimportant decision, carefullyweigh the pros and cons.Evenifyou think you knoweverything, trustyour instincts to guide you toward the best choice.Ifyou’resingle, marriage mightbecloser than you think
LIBRA Sept.23-Oct. 22
Braceyourselfforaheavy workweekfilledwithlotsof detailstomanage.Yourstrong organizationalskillswillhelp youreachagreementsand resolveconflicts.Thissuccess willhelpyouinthelongrunand leaveyoufeelingaccomplished.
SCORPIO Oct. 23-Nov. 21
Your charismawill shine brightly this week as you showcaseyourstrengths and attract everyone’s attention. It’s time to treatyourself to a new wardrobe or improveyour image, if onlytospoil yourself for gettingapromotion.
SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22-Dec.21
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CAPRICORN Dec. 22-Jan. 19
You’ll have alot to saythis week,but yourwords maybe misinterpreted.You must lead by example to gain respectand understanding. Fora more fulfillingromantic relationship, focusonbuilding affection and connection.
AQUARIUS Jan. 20-Feb.18
Unexpectedexpenses will crop up this week.However,you’ll negotiatethe termsofaloan to help alleviatethe financial strain.Playingupyourstrengths maybethe onlyway to getwhat you need or advance certain projects.
PISCES Feb. 19-March 20
You’ll achieve something remarkable this week! Your hard work and efficiency will be rewarded with araise Rememberthatimpulsiveness and impatience have no place in arelationship basedontrust and respect.
HOWTOPLAY:
Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3box contains the numbers1through 9only once. Each 3x3box is outlined with adarker line. Youalready have afew numbers to getyou started. Remember: youmust not repeat the numbers1through 9in the same line, column or 3x3box
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Worship Service Sundays 10am on ourwebsite and Facebook Live 2262ReadCres. 604-898-3737 www.squamishbaptistchurch.org
SUDOKU
